Sticks and Stones

As a child I remember never being quick enough with my comebacks. "Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me!"  Kids are often cruel and I just wasn't as clever as the rest. Later, I would replay the encounter over and over in my head, wishing that I could have shot back some of the stinging responses that occurred to me when not on the spot.  I was rarely able to volley back an equally vicious remark, but in those few instances that I did, I found myself in a pool of regret. Feeling badly for having, quite possibly, caused the same amount of hurt and shame in the other person... given the other person dwelled as much on what others thought of them as I did at the time.

Verbal and emotional violence are prevalent problems in our world today despite the lack of visible wounds they leave.  Domestic violence crosses all barriers and is as blind as we should be to difference in race, class and gender.  In order to truly achieve security and equality we must be educated about and respectful of those different from ourselves.

Sticks and stones may break my bones, yet words they cut much deeper.

I don't know much about nothin

2012
This is a year of change.

The world as we know it will be rocked by corruption, destruction and horrible news stories blown out of proportion. Propaganda, warfare, poverty and fingers pointed to all except those responsible.

This is a year of elections.

I have two countries now. Each will be burdened with the task of electing a new president.
Similarities between the candidates, both in Mexico and in the United States, tend to be pasty makeup, big white teeth, baby kissing and promises [that seem so way too convoluted for anyone to believe].

I have to be honest and admit that apart from those "compare your candidates" websites I have done all I can to avoid the publicity stunts of the political puppets. I do, however, want to share with you this picture of the headquarters of the Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI) in Guanajuato.

I have no preference to parties... other than those that require costumes. However, if this is how they take care of their building, how are we to assume they will take care of our country?

2012

Este es un año de cambios.

El mundo como lo conocemos estará afectado por corrupción, destrucción y noticias horribles salpicadas con veneno y mentiras. Propaganda, guerra, pobreza y culpa echada a todos menos que los que son responsables.

Este es un año de elecciones. 

Ahora tengo dos países. Los dos llevan el peso de la responsabilidad de elegir un nuevo presidente. Tanto en Mexico como en los Estados Unidos, la semejanza entre los candidatos sueles ser: maquillaje excesivo, dientes blancos tamaño a chicle, besos a bebés y promesas [por lo general demasiado buenas para ser ciertas].

Para ser sincera, admito que aparte de las paginas web que comparan los candidatos, he hecho todo posible evitar los trucos publicitarios de los títeres políticos. Sin embargo, quiero compartir una foto del despacho del PRI en Guanajuato Capital. 

No tengo preferencia a los partidos. Pero si así cuidan a su edificio... como podemos esperar que cuiden mejor al país?